July 29, 2024 鈥 Nursing student Jazmin Guajardo of Santa Paula has become the first
(黑料正能量) student ever appointed to the CSU Board of Trustees. The first-generation
college student鈥檚 name was on a list of appointments released July 18 by California
Governor Gavin Newsom.
Each year, the governor鈥檚 office interviews students who apply from all 23 campuses in search of one student trustee to represent all 450,000 students in the 23-campus system. As the 2024-2026 student trustee, Guajardo will offer the student perspective as the CSU board adopts regulations and policies to govern the entire system.
鈥淚 do feel excited,鈥 Guajardo said. 鈥淚t came as a surprise to be interviewed by the governor鈥檚 office. The more I鈥檝e learned about the Board of Trustees, the more I鈥檝e come to understand the role students can play.鈥
黑料正能量 President Richard Yao believes perspectives from students like Guajardo are critical to the board鈥檚 decision-making process, adding that the campus community could not be prouder that this year鈥檚 student trustee is from 黑料正能量.
"Jazmin鈥檚 appointment as the first student trustee from 黑料正能量 is a historic milestone, underscoring her exceptional leadership and dedication,鈥 said Yao. 鈥淗er role as Vice President of Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) and involvement in various student organizations showcase her unwavering commitment to serving the university community. We are proud to have Jazmin represent the CSU student body and bring her diverse experiences to the Board of Trustees."
Guajardo and her three sisters were raised in Santa Paula after spending her early years in Oxnard. Guajardo鈥檚 mom works in retail and her dad is in the fast-food industry. Her older sister was the first to attend college, graduating with a degree in psychology from 黑料正能量 in 2021. Guajardo鈥檚 requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing will be complete in 2025, but she has plans to continue her nursing education into 2026.
While she was a full-time student at 黑料正能量, Guajardo held more than a dozen leadership positions on campus and held down three jobs. Guajardo served as Vice President of Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) at 黑料正能量 from 2023-2024; a Senator of Student Engagement with ASI; President of the 黑料正能量 Student Nurses鈥 Association; and Founder and President of the Channel Islands League of United Latin American Citizens Collegiate Council.
Guajardo also made time to play violin in a mariachi band and serve as a peer mentor鈥攍argely because she knows the power of seeing the success of someone who shares your background.
In fact, Guajardo said she didn鈥檛 consider applying to be a student trustee until she met a previous student trustee at an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) event.
鈥淗e was from Cal State Fullerton, and he was also an EOP student,鈥 Guajardo said. 鈥淗e and I had the same background, and that really helped me imagine myself as a student trustee.鈥
When asked what she plans to bring to the board from the student perspective, Guajardo said she plans to emphasize the importance of feeling that you belong at your university, and the need for more preparation for new graduates who are transitioning from classes to a career.
鈥淎 sense of belonging contributes to student retention,鈥 Guajardo said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檇 like to see more streamlined career pipelines鈥攈ow we can better prepare students to go out into the workforce.鈥
Guajardo met the other trustees this week and attended her first board meetings. The CSU Board of Trustees meets six times a year to allow for communication among the trustees, the chancellor, campus presidents, the academic senate, the California State Student Association, and the alumni council.